İnönü’s train is stopped
The fight that broke out between the supporters of CHP and DP in the Yeşilhisar county of Kayseri on March 25, 1960 increased political tension. Similar fights occurred in Adana on March 31st. During these days, İsmet İnönü departed from Ankara by train on April 2nd to participate in the City Council of CHP in Kayseri. The Menderes government; however, was convinced that İnönü’s participation would further escalate tension. Kayseri Governor Ahmet Kınık was thus given orders to stop the train. Military troops halted the train at Himmetdede Station and İnönü was kept waiting on the train for 3 hours.
The notice İnönü was served regarding his journey noted that the government had implemented the provisions of the “Law on Meetings and Demonstrations,” adding, “As a sign of your provocation policy, countless CHP supporters have gone so far as to raid the government mansion.”
Visiting İnönü on the train, Deputy Governor Şükrü Kenanoğlu tried to convince him by saying, “Your visit to Kayseri is extremely problematic. Both groups are on the edge. We kindly ask you to return to Ankara.” Getting off the train, İnönü crossed the barricades on foot and was met with the applause of a large group of supporters in Kayseri. However, he did not succeed in entering Yeşilhisar the next day.
Of the 13 defendants prosecuted after the 1960 coup d’état for curtailing İnönü’s right of travel, 8 were acquitted and the remaining five, which included Celal Bayar and Adnan Menderes, received sentences.
